Umrah is an Arabic word and it latterly means 'to visit a populated place.' In law or Shari'ah, Umrah means to travel between the Safa and Marwah and doing Tawaf round the Kaaba within the state of Ihram. Umrah is named a minor pilgrimage, while Hajj is termed a serious journey. Hajj is obligatory for each Muslim who can afford all his expenses while Umrah isn't compulsory but Sunnah.

We should not leave any Sunnah because during this Sunnah we will offer five-time daily prayers which are compulsory for each person. we are able to pay Zakkah and fast of Ramadan during the Umrah because these are compulsory. Offering 5-time daily Salah (prayers), the fasting of Ramadan, and paying Zakah are three pillars of Islam. If anyone performs these there then obviously he/she may success to urge many rewards.

We have to travel for Umrah then we'll require Umrah Visas, flights, transports, and hotels within which agency will help us with the several Umrah Packages.

Differences between the Umrah and Hajj:

The main difference between the both is that Hajj is 1 of 5 pillars of Islam and it's obligatory for each Muslim a minimum of only once of life when he/she financially capable and physically fit. Umrah is performed at any time in an exceedingly year but it's not permitted within the specific days of Hajj. Although the stages of Hajj and Umrah are different.

Types of Umrah:

There are two varieties of Umrah. Umar al-Tamattu and Umar al-Mufradah but the performing procedure of both are the identical.

Umrah al Tamattu:

This type of Umrah is performed with the Hajj and here "with the hajj" words meaning this Umrah are often performed before the rituals of Hajj on 8th Dhul Hijjah.

Umrah al Mufradah:

This kind of Umrah is performed at any time of the year aside from the five days of Zul-Hajj which are scheduled for Hajj.

Rituals of Umrah:

The Pilgrims follow the way of Ibrahim and his 2nd wife of Hajrah during the performing of Umrah as Tawaf and Saee and these are called main rituals of Umrah.

In the area of Masjid al-Haram, pilgrims perform their Umrah, but anyone cannot enter the mosque for Umrah unless he/she won't enter the state of Ihram. Ihram may be a garment that has got to be worn at Miqat places.

Miqat places for Ihram:

Al-Juhfah- for pilgrims coming from Madina.

Dhul Hulaifah- for pilgrims coming from Syria, Egypt, or Morocco.

Yalamlam- for pilgrims coming from India, Pakistan or Yemen.

Dhat Irq- for pilgrims coming from Iraq.

Qarn al Manazil- for pilgrims coming from Najd or Taif.

When aeroplanes fly over the Miqat place then pilots or captains of those flights announce to wear Ihram. Pilgrims can wear Ihram at this point within the aeroplane.

Before wearing Ihram, bathing (Gusal), cutting the nails, and removing unwanted hair of body are necessary activities.

It is different for men and ladies because men wear two unsewn white sheets for covering their bodies whereas women wear normal dresses but they ought to cover their normal dresses with Abayas.

In the state of Ihram men and girls don't involve in any sexuality, don't hunt any animal, and don't use any perfume and scent.

Tawaf ritual of Umrah is performed when pilgrims walk round the Kaaba seven times within the state of Ihram. Kaaba could be a cubic form building within the Al-Haram Mosque. Pilgrims start their Tawaf from the purpose of Black Stone (Hajre Aswad) with touching and kissing.

Although sometimes it's impossible for everybody to begin his/her Tawaf by touching and kissing then he/she can start his/her Tawaf by raising the face of hands towards the Black Stone.

After the tawaf, pilgrims perform two rakats prayers before of Ibrahim Ibrahim, but within the case of girls, ladies are exempt. Women can give two rakats prayers at anywhere of the mosque. After tawaaf and rakats, pilgrims drink the water of Zamzam.

Saee ritual of Umrah is performed through walking 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. These hills are located within the area of Al-Haram mosque. Pilgrims run or walk quickly between the Safa and Marwah.

This happened within the time of Ibrahim (A.S) when he left his son and wife at this place with some food and small water. After he left them, mother of Ismail (A.S) ran between the 2 hills for water. Allah SWT liked this step and He added this ritual in Umrah and Hajj.

Halq/Taqsir are two names but it's one ritual of Umrah that's performed at the tip of all rituals of Umrah. together with the various names the performing method is additionally separate. Halq for a person while Taqsir for a lady is chosen way.

In the Halq, a person shaves head entirely. within the Taqsir, a lady cuts the hairs just for one inch.

A very worth considering, when did Muslims pay their first Umrah?

The first Umrah was performed by Muslims after the time of the treaty of Hudaaibiya within the 629 AS or 7 AH, when Makkah was conquered.